Sealed bearing cleaning and lubricating head



Oct. 20, 1953 J THORPE 2,656,012

SEALED BEARING CLEANING AND LUBRICATING HEAD Filed. Nov. 28, 1950 zmezzor" Jczc fi, 77207276.

standard lubricating guns Patented Oct. 20, 1953 T OFFICE SEALED BEARINGCLEANING AND LUBRICATING HEAD Jack H. Thorpe, Los Angeles, Calif.Application November 28, 1950, Serial N 05197396 2 Claims.

The primary purpose of my invention is the ing device adaptable forattachment to the purchasable in the open market, for example, theAlemite and Zerk guns to extend the usefulness and improve the operationthereof.

A11 important object of the invention is to-provide a small and lightweight device that may readily be carried about, be easily handled andreadily permit a more thorough as well as quicker cleaning andlubricating job than is'possible with any tool the market affords.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device that willoperate as effectively on either air or hand operated guns.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device thatwill positively clean and lubricate bearings of varying sizes andwherein the axle hole of the bearing is in keeping with the size of thedevice, that is, neither too large or too small for the. sealing cone.

And a further object of my invention is the provision of a device thatmay readily be produced in varying sizesto meet varying sized bearingrequirements, and wherein the principle of operation is identical foreither cleaning or lubricating bearings, excepting that a pressurecleaning gun is used for the cleaning operation,

and a lubricating gun for the lubricating voperation.

Other objects and specific advantages of the invention will more fullyappear from the following description and accompanying drawings,

in which:

view of the device as shown on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, showing one typeof sealed bearing for the purpose of illustrating an operation of thedevice of my invention;

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing a modified form of the device foruse in less accessible places as where the bearing may be left in themachine; Figure 6 shows amodified form of the device :for use where thebear-ing is left in the machine against the seal of the head 2 and noneof the surrounding parts of the ma chine are removed;

Figure"? shows a modified form of piston forming a part of theinvention, having grooves cut in the shoulder thereof; and

Figure 8 is another modified form of piston forming a part of theinvention, but with no shoulder, and having grooves to receive theretaining screws.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

As shown in Fig. 1, a grease gun I0 is clamped in inverted position in avise H which is secured to a bench l2. A cable or other linkage I3 isconnected with the trigger of the gun at the upper end and runs down toa foot pedal [4, pivoted on a leg of the bench. Pressure on the pedal Mpulls the trigger through the cable l3 to allow air from the line l5connected to a source of supply of compressed air, not shown, to forcegrease or cleaning fluid from the chamber i6 up through the chuck [1into the head l8 .and thence into the sealed bearing l9, held down bythe operator or any suitable means, not shown,

Where the bearing can be removed from the machine, an arrangement suchas is shown in Fig. 1 is very advantageous as it leaves the hands freeto hold the bearing in position.

The cleaningand lubricating head l8 as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 iscylindrical in shape, open at the bearing engaging end and provided atthe opposite end with a grease fitting 19. A bayonet type of fitting isshown although any type may be used. The grease fitting is adapted to beheld in the chuck ll of the grease gun l0,

.and may be either manually or air operated.

As best shown in Figure 4, the cleaning and lubricatin head MS has aninternal bore 20 adapted to receive a piston 2| which is slightlysmaller in diameter than the bore '20 so as to facilitate the passage ofgrease between the piston and the wall of the bore 20. The piston isprovided between its ends with an annular shoulder 22 which normallyengages stops in the form of screws 23, equally spaced around theperiphery of the cylinder. A spring 24 bearing against the end Wall ofthe cylinder and engaging the inner end surface of the piston, urges thelatter outwardly and into engagement with the stops 23. The piston istapered at its outer end as shown at 240. to provide a variable sealingmeans in the bore of the bearing Hi. The outer end of the piston isfurther provided with a guide pin 25 to facilitate centering the devicein the bearing.

The grease fitting I9 is screwed into the end wall of the cleaning andlubricating head in a bore 26 having a reduced diameter at its inner endwhich opens into the bore 20. Grease can be forced through the fittingI9, the bore 26 and into the bore 28. Pressure is built up in the cavitybetween the piston 2| and the end wall of the body to force'the pistonoutwardly to cause 7 the tapered end 24a to make a tight seal betweenthe piston and the bore of the bearing l9.

At its bearing engaging end the head It is provided with a rubbersealing ring 21 which is carried in a groove 2% in the outer edge of thehead. This sealing ring bears against either the sealing ring 29 or theouter race 30 of the bearing depending upon the diameter of the bearingto form an outer seal against the passage of grease. When the bearing ispressed down on the cleaning and lubricating head to contact both thepiston and the sealing ring 2?, the piston is pressed inwardly away fromthe stops 23. This provides for a tight seal of the tapered end 24a ofthe piston within the bore of the inner race 3! of the bearing andallows for the use of the device on various sizes oi bearings within therange of the size of the device. It should be understood, however, thatthe device may be produced in varying sizes and modifications to handlesealed bearings f all types irrespective of size.

Grease or cleaning fiuidis forced out around the piston and the wall ofthe bore as. It enter the bearing at 552 between the outer periphery ofthe inner race 3i and the bore through the sealing member 29. The oldgrease can thus be carried off or flushed out through the crack 33between the outer periphery of the inner race and the bore in thesealing member Be on the opposite side or" the bearing.

As shown in 5, the device has been modified to provide a unit for use ininaccessible places. Parts similar to those in the first form areidentified with the same numbers. In this form the bore in the head Ithas been placed at right angles to the bore 29 in order to shorten thehead and facilitate the use of the device in tight places. Pressureagainst the open end of the head holds it in engagement with the bearingto be treated. form of'grease fitting 35 is provided in this device. Itis adapted to either snap into the chuck of the grease gun or to be heldin engaged position therewith by pressure on the gun. No guide pin isprovided on the tapered outer end of the piston 2 la in this form of mydevice, which itself furier helps to shorten the overall length thereof,this being of material advantage.

In 6, a cleaning and lubricating head 58 similar to that shown in thefirst form, excepting, however, that it omits the piston and spring. Thform is adapted to be used for cleaning and lubricating sealed bearingswhich are not .removed from the machine in which they are used.illustrate the use of this device a pulley 3:5 is shown mounted on theouter race 3? of a bearing The inner race 39 of the bearing is fixedlymounted on a stationary axle 45 which is carried in the upper end of apedestal 4!. The cleaning and lubricating head it is pressed against theouter surface of the hearing. The head of .the axle enters the open endof the bore 2t. Grease or cleaning fluid is forced into the bearing asbefore, that is, between the outer periphery of the It will be notedthat a different a bore opening at one end inner race 39 of the bearingand the corresponding hole in the seal 40a at a position designated as 3la. The old grease is forced out on the opposite side of the bearingbetween the inner race and the hole in the seal 42, at a positiondesignated as 43.

Figure 7 shows a modified form of piston 2th, the guide pin on thetapered end of the piston being omitted and the stepped portion thereofis provided with grooves i l. In this form of piston, the outercircumference may be of a Working fit with the bore 20, in as much asthe grooves allow for the passage of grease between the piston and thewall of the bore Zil. The parts of the piston which are the same asthose of the preceding forms are numbered identically with the numberingof said forms.

Figure 8 shows still another form of piston 2|c. In this form the guidepin 25 on the tapered end of the piston has been retained, and thestepped portion is omitted. In lieu of the latter, but equally adaptablefor engaging the stops 23, grooves are provided for engagementtherewith. The screws 23 ride in said grooves 15 and the inner ends ofthe latter act as stops to limit the outer movement of the piston.

With the exception of the above enumerated modifications, all types ofthe device are identical and serve their respective purposes equallyWell. The device provides a uniquelydesigned contrivance for itspurpose. It is extremely light in weight, durable, and readily producedfrom mate rials the open market afiords;

It may be made in varying sizes to best meet industrial and otherrequirements.

I am aware that slight modifications in struc ture may from time to timesuggest themselves without departing, however, from the scope of theinvention herein set forth. Hence, I do not limit my present inventionto the exact arrangement and description disclosed, but what I do claimis:

1. An attachment adapted to be supported upon and to extend outwardlyfrom the outlet of a lubricating gun, for facilitating the cleaning andlubrication of a sealed bearing having inner and outer races with a borethrough the inner race, said attachment comprising a head having a boreclosed at one end and opening at one end of the head with a diameterthat will permit establishing close communication with the space betweensaid races when said open end of the head is held against said bearing,a sealing member on said end of the head for forming an annular sealbetween the head and said bearing for confining the flow of cleaningfluid or lubricant to'the space between said races, a piston in saidbore of said head, displacing the major portion of the space in saidbore and having a tapered end adapted to seal against an end of the wallof the bore in said inner race, a coiled spring having its end abuttingthe other end of said piston andsaid closed end respectively for urgingsaid piston outwardly from said bore, means limiting the outwardmovement of said piston, there being a continuously open fiuid passagebetween the piston and the wall of the bore through said head, and meansfor connecting said bore in the head with said outlet and for supportingthe head upon the gun in outwardly extended relation thereto.

2. An attachment for facilitating the cleaning and lubrication of asealed bearing having inner and outer races with a bore through theinner race, said attachment comprising a head having of the head and ofa diameter adapted to establish communication with the space betweensaid races when said end of the head is held against said bearing, asealing member on said end of the head for forming an annular sealbetween the head and said bearing for confining the flow of cleaningfluid or lubricant to the space between said races, a piston in the boreof said head having a tapered end adapted to seal against an end of thewall of the bore in said inner race, a coiled spring in said boreabutting the other end of said piston for urging said piston outwardlyfrom said bore, means limiting the outward movement of said piston, saidpiston being of a size to occupy the greater portion of the space insaid bore and having a diameter forming an annular and continu- JACK H.THORPE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,168,746 Saal Aug. 8, 1939 2,187,608 Kropp Jan. 16, 1940Pitisci Mar. 5, 1946

